My Lords, the matters we debate today are both sombre and urgent. They are sombre because, as the committee’s report highlights, the challenges faced by the rule of law in contemporary society are very grave. To give only one example, the then Lord Chancellor said in evidence to us that...

My Lords, the matters we debate today are both sombre and urgent. They are sombre because, as the committee’s report highlights, the challenges faced by the rule of law in contemporary society are very grave. To give only one example, the then Lord Chancellor said in evidence to us that...

My Lords, when we think about the justice system, let us not forget Cinderella—the family courts. It is not entirely bad news; there is some good news on this front. Exceptionally in this debate, I congratulate, if I may, the Minister, and indeed her predecessor, the noble Lord, Lord Ponsonby...

My Lords, when we think about the justice system, let us not forget Cinderella—the family courts. It is not entirely bad news; there is some good news on this front. Exceptionally in this debate, I congratulate, if I may, the Minister, and indeed her predecessor, the noble Lord, Lord Ponsonby...

I support my noble friend Lord Nash and Motion G1 following his amazingly powerful speech. I also suggest that Commons Amendments 38A and 38B be rejected on constitutional grounds as they would give Ministers unacceptably wide Henry VIII powers. I declare my membership of the Constitution Committee, but of course...

I support my noble friend Lord Nash and Motion G1 following his amazingly powerful speech. I also suggest that Commons Amendments 38A and 38B be rejected on constitutional grounds as they would give Ministers unacceptably wide Henry VIII powers. I declare my membership of the Constitution Committee, but of course...

My Lords, it is an honour to follow the noble and right reverend Lord, Lord Carey of Clifton. In declaring my membership of the Constitution Committee, I say first that the delegated powers in the Bill are excessive. Clause 41(4) permits the Secretary of State to amend the National Health...

My Lords, it is an honour to follow the noble and right reverend Lord, Lord Carey of Clifton. In declaring my membership of the Constitution Committee, I say first that the delegated powers in the Bill are excessive. Clause 41(4) permits the Secretary of State to amend the National Health...

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the wise words of the noble Baroness, Lady Alexander. I declare my present membership of the Constitution Committee, although not when the committee produced this report.

It is true that there is no single document in this country called the constitution, as...

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the wise words of the noble Baroness, Lady Alexander. I declare my present membership of the Constitution Committee, although not when the committee produced this report.

It is true that there is no single document in this country called the constitution, as...

My Lords, I warmly congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Longfield, on an outstanding maiden speech and welcome her again to this House. Indeed, I also thank the noble Lord, Lord Carlile, for

leading this debate. In response to his invitation, I briefly say that in my view we have two...

My Lords, I warmly congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Longfield, on an outstanding maiden speech and welcome her again to this House. Indeed, I also thank the noble Lord, Lord Carlile, for

leading this debate. In response to his invitation, I briefly say that in my view we have two...

My Lords, in his devastating book How Westminster Works … and Why It Doesn’t, the noted commentator Ian Dunt describes this House as,

“one of the only aspects of our constitutional arrangements that actually works”.

The words that he, as a neutral observer, uses to describe this House include diligence, expertise, consensus,...

My Lords, in his devastating book How Westminster Works … and Why It Doesn’t, the noted commentator Ian Dunt describes this House as,

“one of the only aspects of our constitutional arrangements that actually works”.

The words that he, as a neutral observer, uses to describe this House include diligence, expertise, consensus,...

My Lords, I add my congratulations to the noble and learned Baroness the Advocate-General for Scotland and to my noble friend Lady Laing on outstanding maiden speeches.

I will address something that has not been directly touched on so far, which is the importance of the role and the integrity of...

My Lords, I add my congratulations to the noble and learned Baroness the Advocate-General for Scotland and to my noble friend Lady Laing on outstanding maiden speeches.

I will address something that has not been directly touched on so far, which is the importance of the role and the integrity of...

Statement on legislative consent. Lords third reading. Bill passed and sent to the Commons.

Statement on legislative consent. Lords third reading. Bill passed and sent to the Commons.

My Lords, I simply associate myself, on behalf of these Benches and as the previous sponsor of this Bill in the previous Government, with the thanks that have been given to the entire team, not only to the special committee and its chair but to the civil servants who have...

My Lords, I simply associate myself, on behalf of these Benches and as the previous sponsor of this Bill in the previous Government, with the thanks that have been given to the entire team, not only to the special committee and its chair but to the civil servants who have...

My Lords, in relation to the intervention of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas, your Lordships will recall that on 27 March this year, when I was then the Minister in charge of the Bill, I said that I had written to the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, the ICC,...

My Lords, in relation to the intervention of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas, your Lordships will recall that on 27 March this year, when I was then the Minister in charge of the Bill, I said that I had written to the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, the ICC,...

My Lords, again I take this opportunity to welcome and congratulate the Minister on his appointment, since this is the first time that we have faced each other across the Chamber at the Dispatch Box, and our roles are now reversed. I thank him particularly for his courtesy and common...

My Lords, again I take this opportunity to welcome and congratulate the Minister on his appointment, since this is the first time that we have faced each other across the Chamber at the Dispatch Box, and our roles are now reversed. I thank him particularly for his courtesy and common...

Lords second reading. Agreed to on question. Bill committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

Lords second reading. Agreed to on question. Bill committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

My Lords, I warmly welcome the Minister and congratulate him on a most outstanding maiden speech. I will briefly deal with two topics not mentioned in His Majesty’s gracious Speech: family justice and the efficiency of our courts.

Such is the pressure on the prisons and on our court system that...

My Lords, I warmly welcome the Minister and congratulate him on a most outstanding maiden speech. I will briefly deal with two topics not mentioned in His Majesty’s gracious Speech: family justice and the efficiency of our courts.

Such is the pressure on the prisons and on our court system that...

To ask His Majesty's Government what was the average length of proceedings in cases of wrongful dismissal being heard by employment tribunals in each of the past five years.

To ask His Majesty's Government what was the average length of proceedings in cases of wrongful dismissal being heard by employment tribunals in each of the past five years.

To ask His Majesty's Government what was the average length of proceedings in cases of unfair dismissal being heard by employment tribunals in each of the past five years.

To ask His Majesty's Government what was the average length of proceedings in cases of unfair dismissal being heard by employment tribunals in each of the past five years.

To ask His Majesty's Government how many prisoners were recalled to prison under (1) imprisonment for public protection sentences, and (2) all categories, in 2023.

To ask His Majesty's Government how many prisoners were recalled to prison under (1) imprisonment for public protection sentences, and (2) all categories, in 2023.

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to purchasing prison space in US Federal or State prisons to house UK prisoners to free up prison space.

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to purchasing prison space in US Federal or State prisons to house UK prisoners to free up prison space.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reoffending rates following community sentences which include (1) a drug rehabilitation requirement, (2) an alcohol treatment requirement, and (3) a mental health treatment requirement.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reoffending rates following community sentences which include (1) a drug rehabilitation requirement, (2) an alcohol treatment requirement, and (3) a mental health treatment requirement.

To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to publish their response to the Independent report on the operation of closed material procedure under the Justice and Security Act 2013, which was laid before Parliament in November 2022; and when they intend to publish their annual report on the use...

To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to publish their response to the Independent report on the operation of closed material procedure under the Justice and Security Act 2013, which was laid before Parliament in November 2022; and when they intend to publish their annual report on the use...